Mick’s Minute – Race 1 Dome Cafe Triathlon
WOW, what a way to kick off the first race of the 2011/2012 MTC tri season. 99 Fit athletes registered and raced at the Dome Short Course race on Sunday 13 November. All eager to see if the hard work they had put themselves through during the winter months was going to pay off. Also there was the added pressure to perform in front of a huge crowd of spectators who had dragged themselves out of a warm bed not only to cheer us on but also to support our sponsor the DOME Cafe Halls Head, I could have used a caffiene fix on every lap as I was trying to catch Lauryn and Carina.
Treading water waiting for the swim start was amazing – what a sight! The start was brutal – fists and feet everywhere and it didn’t stop until we hit the beach. Turning the swim bouy had people jostling for position to be first out of the water.
First out of the water was Luke Banham, with his swim coach Karli “Superfish” Chambers just 4 seconds back (i think he should do extra drills Karli!) closely followed by Paul Wilkinson 3rd and Darryl Harris 4th out. Then there was a pack close behind containing Michael Cave, Brett Johnson, Jamie Muir, Elliott Combes and David Patullo. With young 14 year old Thomas Russell – star of the future – hot on their heels. Second woman out of the water was my beautiful wife Lauryn, with a very fit looking Carina Costello just 30 seconds back.
Out on to the bike it was on for young and old in the mens race with Darryl Harris, Luke Banham and Jamie Muir showing that a consistent winter of racing with the Peel Cycling Club has paid off. Darryl Harris lead the way with a smoking 24.15 bike split, with RTC member Peter Hornburg just one second behind, then Luke and Jamie Muir just seconds back. In the next pack you could have thrown a blanket over these guys with David Patullo, Elliott Combes, Thomas Russell and Luke Sexton all coming into T2 at the same time with Rockingham Tri Club President Josh Mann just seconds back. The pressure was on in the mens run!
Meanwhile in the womens race Karli Chambers was first into T2, with Carina Costello posting the fastest womens bike split of the day with 27.30 second into transition with Lauryn on her back wheel. Alison Whiteman was in 4th position off the bike.
Out on the run course Freo 1/2 Marathon winner (1.12!!) Brett Johnson was flying along posting a 9.57 run to take 1st place comfortably in 40.23 with a 1 minute buffer to 2nd place getter Jamie Muir in 41.30, he held off RTC member Peter Hornburg by just 1 second. Luke Banham was 4th in 41.47, then Darryl Harris in 5th in 42.13, David Patullo 6th in 43.02, Elliott Combes came in 7th in 43.43, then 14 year old Thomas Russell pushed the senior guys all the way and came in 8th overall in 43.46 with Luke Sexton 9th in 44.46 and rounding out the top ten was Brad Wardrope in 44.56.
Karli Chambers had run course all to herself with a slick 12.05 run to finish in 45.31. Carina Costello pulled away from Lauryn on the run to finish in 2nd with a time of 48.24, then Lauryn in 3rd in 51.49 with Alison Whiteman in 4th with a time of 52.24.
I think the top guys will have be at their best this year, with guys who finished out of the top ten will build during the season the likes of Ian Crane, Brad Pethers, Paul Taylor, Aaron Ernst, Karl Winrow and Gavin Bassett just to mention a few.
There were also a few women to watch moving further into the year with Jude Martindale, Pip Whitney, Angela Tomlinson, Rebecca Jenson and Alisha WIlliams having great 1st races for the season.
Once again it was great to see the regulars at the race with Pauline and Ivan Wiltshire and Pauline Wingate all out to have a great race. Young Ben Hall had a solid first race too – watch out Neil and Uncle Michael – future Ironman maybe?
Hopefully all first timers had a great race and more importantly enjoyed the morning and thank you to the Dome Halls Head for the great coffee afterwards! It was great to see everyone head over to our sponsors to support them. Thanks to all the volunteers and supporters – as usual you guys make the day great!
Hope to see you all at the next race on Sunday 27th November the Athletes Foot short course – lets see if we can crack the 100 competitor mark!
Heard on the grapevine – which MTC member was overhead giving a girl advice on how to do a 16k time trial only to be told later that she was an olympic gold medalist in the bike road race and world champion??
